2019 Clergy Missiological Conversation

Posted on May 30, 2019

“Neighborhood Gentrification: The Impact on City and Suburbs”

April 12, 2019 PBA Clergy Missiological Conversation

Clergy and church leaders gathered on April 12th at Esperanza for the second annual clergy conversation. The event is sponsored by the Philadelphia Baptist Association (PBA) and the PBA Ministers Council.

Our opening speaker the Rev. Dr. Luis Cortes, Founder, President and CEO of Esperanza addressed conscious raising on the national and international phenomenon of gentrification of neighborhoods (e.g. root causes, patterns, concentration of wealth, relocation of the poor, impact on city and suburbs, etc.). There were two panels to help us investigate our concern on the day’s topic.

Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode – is the President and CEO of Amachi, Incorporated, a nationally acclaimed faith-based program for mentoring children of incarcerated parents; Chairman and CEO of Self, Incorporated – a nonprofit corporation dedicated to serving more than 600 homeless men and women, and Chairman of the Philadelphia Leadership Foundation.

Community Panel: Addressing advocacy and success stories on what to do about gentrification and a response by government officials/City Council: Rev. William Moore – Pastor, Tenth Memorial Baptist Church and Councilwoman Cherelle Parker, Ninth Council District and city Councilwoman At-Large Helen Gym.